Axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch

ABSTRACT

A sealed case housing, a switch blade and associated fixed contact terminals, an actuator end within the case, and a stationary rod providing a support for the case. The stationary rod extends parallel to the normal plane of the switch blade and coplanar to the actuator, which in turn is axially movable through the case relative to the support rod and longitudinally of the switch blade for actuation thereof upon movement in either direction.

United States Patent Anderson 51 July 18,1972

[54] AXIALLY RECIPROCAL ACTUATOR FOR A SEALED SWITCH [72] Inventor: FredN. Anderson, Waukegan, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Cherry Electrical Products Corporation,

I Waukegan, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 94,500

[521 U.S.CI ..200/168G, ZOO/16R l5 1 l Int. Cl. I 58 I Field of Search[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,977,887 10/1934 Murray..200/16 R 2,222,765 11/1940 Geyer ..200/16 R X 3,258,549 6/ 1966 Stol..200/16 R 3,086,090 4/1963 Carroll ...200/ 168 G X 3,126,467 3/1964Stevens, Jr. ..200/ 168 G Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-EdwardC. Threedy [57] ABSTRACT A sealed case housing, a switch blade andassociated fixed contact terminals, an actuator end within the case, anda stationary rod providing a support for the case. The stationary rodextends parallel to the normal plane of the switch blade and coplanar tothe actuator, which in turn is axially movable through the case relativeto the support rod and longitudinally of the switch blade for actuationthereof upon movement in either direction.

5 Chins, 10 Drawing Figures AXIALLY RECIPROCAL ACTUATOR FOR A SEALEDSWITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An axially reciprocal movable actuatorfor a sealed switch providing a sectional case housing an elongatedswitch blade having contacts at opposite free ends which are normallyspaced from associated fixed contact-bearing terminals. The sealed caseis fixedly mounted upon one end of an elongated support rod that extendscoplanar with respect to the actuator.

Within the case the actuator end has mounted thereon a pair of opposingspring cups maintained in a separated relationship by a spring disposedtherebetween and coiled about the actuator. Each cup has a correspondingside edge in engagement with a portion of the switch blade adjacent eachof the ends thereof. The cups are attached to the actuator andpositioned relative to each other in such manner that either, but neverboth, will be moved with the actuator in the direction of its movementaxially of the support rod so as to yieldably flex the corresponding endportion of the switch blade engaged thereby into contact with itsassociated spaced bearing terminal for completing a circuittherethrough.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by the novel arrangementof parts which coact in a prescribed manner and which are bestillustrated by the accompanying drawings showing the preferredembodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the switch with a portion of theside wall of the case removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the case sections prior toassembly;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the switch with a portion of thecover removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one of the fixed contacts of theswitch;

FIG; 5 is an enlarged side view of a terminal and switch plade mountingbracket as employed in the switch;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sideelevational view of another terminal of theswitch;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the switch blade and partof the mounting bracket therefor;

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of one of the spring cup of theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the spring cup shown in FIG. 8', and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view-of one end of the actuator.

The switch 10 of this invention consists of a plurality of components tobe hereinafter described, which are normally contained in a sealed casethat is comprised of complementary sections 11 and 12. Each sectionprovides wall partitions and abutments which, when mated, fonn aninternal compartment. In this respect, section 11 provides a wallpartition 13, 14, 15 and 16, generally outlining the internalcompartment 17.

Extending upwardly from the wall 14 is a leg 18 provided with asemicircular recess 19 which tapers at its bottom end into a slot 20that has open communication with the compartment 17. The rear wall 21 ofthe compartment 17 is formed to provide a ridge 22 extending inalignment with the slot 20 substantially throughout the compartment 17,as shown in FIG. 2.

The wall 15 is provided with slots 23, 24 and 25, through which portionsof the fixed terminals 26 and 27 and the combination terminal and switchblade mounting 28 project. In this manner the contact-bearing heads 29and 30 of the fixed terminals 26 and 27 will bepositioned within thecompartment 17, as will a connecting end 31 of the terminal and mountingbracket 28, in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

Extending downwardly from the wall 16 of the case 11 is a leg 32 which,like the leg 18, provides a semicircular recess 33 which terminates intoa slit 34 that does not extend into the compartment 17. I

The assembled switch 10 is mounted upon a stationary support rod 35which has its circular body portion disposed in the semicircularrecesses 33 and 33' of the case sections 11 and 12, and which has itsend portion flattened longitudinally so as to be received in the slits34 and 34' provided by the respective case sections. In this manner, theswitch housing is fixedly connected to the support rod 35.

The switch actuator comprises an elongated rod 37 which has a portion ofits circular body disposed in the semicircular recesses 19 and 19' ofthe case sections 11 and 12, while its flattened end portion 38 extendsthrough the slots 20 and 20' into the interior compartment 17. Theflattened end portion 38 of the actuator 37 is formed to provide anelongated stem 39 which terminates at its free endinto a cross member 40having a width greater than that of the stem 39. Inwardly of its end thestem 39 provides a rectangularly shaped flat portion 41 which has awidth equal to the width of the cross member 40, with such body portion41 terminating into an enlarged rectangular section 42 which providesoppositely laterally extending shoulder members 43 and 44 having awidth.

therebetween greater than the width of the rectangular body portion 41and cross member 40. The particular ends construction of the actuator 37is for the purpose hereinafter described.

Adapted to be mounted on the stem 39 of the inner portion 38 of theactuator 37 are a pair of spring cups 45. These cups 45 are identical inconstruction, and therefore the specific detail thereof is singularlyshown as in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the spring cup 45 comprises a substantially squarebody portion, the opposite side edges 46 and 47 of which are taperedinwardly in the direction of each other, as clearly shown. The smallerwall surface of the spring cup 45 is recessed as at 48 and is providedwith a counterbore 49 which extends through the entire body of thespring cup 45. This counterbore 49 is preferably circular in crosssection and provides squared keyways 50 extending laterally through atransversely extending centerline from the periphery of the counterbore49, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Like recesses 51 are formed in the topwall section of the spring cup 45, which extend in a transversedirection to the keyways 50 and which do not extend completely throughthe body, as shown.

In constructing the actuator, a spring cup 45 is passed upon the stem 39of the actuator 37 with the cross member 40 finding clearance formovement throughthe keyways 50. This first cup 45, as mounted on thestem 39 of the actuator 37, is then rotated about the stem 39 through sothat the shoulders 52 provided by the enlarged body portion 41 of suchstem 39, will sit within the recesses 51 formed in the top wall of thespring cup 45.

A coil spring 53 is then journaled upon the stem 39 of the actuator andhas one end received in the recess 48 provided by the underside of thespring cup 45. A second spring cup 45 is then mounted on the stem 39 ina manner such that its recess receives the opposite free end of thespring 53, and with the cross members 40 disposed in the recesses 51after they have been passed through the keyway 50 and the spring cuprotated as hereinbefore described. By this construction, each of thespring cups 45 is attached to the actuator 37 for independent movementtherewith in the direction of its movement.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the actuator 37 is moved in a downwarddirection, as indicated by the arrow, the shoulders 52 will bear againstthe uppennost spring cup 45 and move it downwardly with the actuator 37against the coils of the spring A 53. The lowermost spring cup 45 isarrested against movement therewith by a wall abutment 54 formed withinthe cavity 17.

To prevent the spring cups 45 from rotating about the stem 39 of theactuator, the side walls 55 and 56 thereof are provided with alignednotches 57 which freely receive and ride upon the ridges 22 and 22'formed on the rear walls 21 and 21 of the switch case sections 11 and12.

One of the tapered side walls 47 of each of the spring cups 45 is incontact with a curved portion 58 and 59 of an elongated switch blade 60which has been mounted upon the end 31 of the terminal and mountingbracket 28. This elongated switch blade 60 lies in a plane which isnormally parallel to the path of travel of the actuator 37. By such aconstruction, when, as can be visualized in FIG. 1, the actuator ismoved in a downward direction and the upper spring cup 45 engages thecurve portion 58 of the switch blade 60, the free end 61 of the I blade60 will be flexed out of its normal longitudinal plane as the spring cup45 continues in its directional movement, until contact is made with thefixed terminal 26, establishing a circuit therethrough.

In the event the actuator 37 is caused to be moved in an upwarddirection, the upper spring cup 45 is arrested against movementtherewith in that direction by a wall abutment 63, while the lowerspring cup 45 will be moved in such upward direction and engage thelower curved portion 59 of the switch 60, causing the lower free end 62of the switch to be flexed out of its normal longitudinal plane intocontact with the fixed terminal 27, and thus establish an independentcircuit therethrough.

When the switch components have been assembled as hereinbefore describedand placed with in the mating case sections 11 and 12, they areultrasonically welded to completely seal the housing against dirt, dust,moisture, and the like.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that l have provided a switch thathas a positive switch actuation, with the switch actuator having anaxially reciprocal movement through the switch housing so as to move aswitching member in the direction of the movement of the actuator, toestablish selective circuits through different fixed terminals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. An axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch having a hollowcase housing the switch components including fixed spaced apartterminals and a switch blade mounting bracket, wherein the improvementcomprises:

a. complementary mating case sections providing a switch housing havinga substantially elongated hollow compartment;

b. a support for said switch housing extending longitudinally from oneend thereof,

c. an actuator journaled through the other end of said switch housingand reciprocally movable therethrough and having a free end disposedwithin said compartment in axial alignment with respect to said support,an elongated switch blade connected to its mounting bracket within saidcompartment with its ends yieldably spaced from the terminals, andextending in a longitudinal plane normal to the axis of said actuatorand spaced substantially parallelly with respect to said free endthereof,

e. a pair of longitudinally spaced opposed switch-contacting memberseach slidably journaled on the free end of said actuator andindependently movable in the direction of each other upon correspondingdirectional movement of said actuator,

f. and means for resistantly separating said switch-contacting membersfrom each other and normally out of contact with said switch blade. Y

2. A device as defined by claim 1 including longitudinally spaced movingmeans on said free end of said actuator in contact with saidswitch-contacting members for individually moving each of saidswitch-contacting members in the direction of the other uponcorresponding directional movement of said free end of said actuatorwithin said compartment, and means within said compartment for arrestingeach of said switch-contacting members against movement with the otherswitch-contacting member when either of said switchcontactmg members 18individually moved by said moving means on said actuator.

3. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for resistantlyseparating said switch-contacting members comprises a spring coiledabout said free end of said actuator between said opposedswitch-contacting members.

4. A device as defined by claim 4 and including longitudinally spacedmoving means on the free end of said actuator in contact with saidswitch-contacting members for individually moving each of saidswitch-contacting members in the direction of the other and against saidcoil spring therebetween upon corresponding directional movement of saidfree end of said actuator within said compartment.

5. A device as defined by claim 3 wherein said longitudinally spacedmoving means comprises pairs of laterally extending shoulders on saidfree end of said actuator, with each pair of shoulders in contact withan adjacent switch-contacting member for moving the same axially of saidactuator in one direction upon movement of said actuator in suchdirection.

1. An axially reciprocal actuator for a sealed switch having a hollowcase housing the switch components including fixed spaced apartterminals and a switch blade mounting bracket, wherein the improvementcomprises: a. complementary mating case sections providing a switchhousing having a substantially elongated hollow compartment; b. asupport for said switch housing extending longitudinally from one endthereof, c. an actuator journaled through the other end of said switchhousing and reciprocally movable therethrough and having a free enddisposed within said compartment in axial alignment with respect to saidsupport, an elongated switch blade connected to its mounting bracketwithin said compartment with its ends yieldably spaced from theterminals, and extending in a longitudinal plane normal to the axis ofsAid actuator and spaced substantially parallelly with respect to saidfree end thereof, e. a pair of longitudinally spaced opposedswitch-contacting members each slidably journaled on the free end ofsaid actuator and independently movable in the direction of each otherupon corresponding directional movement of said actuator, f. and meansfor resistantly separating said switch-contacting members from eachother and normally out of contact with said switch blade.
 2. A device asdefined by claim 1 including longitudinally spaced moving means on saidfree end of said actuator in contact with said switch-contacting membersfor individually moving each of said switch-contacting members in thedirection of the other upon corresponding directional movement of saidfree end of said actuator within said compartment, and means within saidcompartment for arresting each of said switch-contacting members againstmovement with the other switch-contacting member when either of saidswitch-contacting members is individually moved by said moving means onsaid actuator.
 3. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said means forresistantly separating said switch-contacting members comprises a springcoiled about said free end of said actuator between said opposedswitch-contacting members.
 4. A device as defined by claim 4 andincluding longitudinally spaced moving means on the free end of saidactuator in contact with said switch-contacting members for individuallymoving each of said switch-contacting members in the direction of theother and against said coil spring therebetween upon correspondingdirectional movement of said free end of said actuator within saidcompartment.
 5. A device as defined by claim 3 wherein saidlongitudinally spaced moving means comprises pairs of laterallyextending shoulders on said free end of said actuator, with each pair ofshoulders in contact with an adjacent switch-contacting member formoving the same axially of said actuator in one direction upon movementof said actuator in such direction.